It is not news that politically exposed public servants are the easiest targets of both the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC- two legacy watchdogs agencies that former President Olusegun Obasanjo bequeathed to Nigeria.
Indeed, while he was in power at least a member of the ruling security force, the Inspector General Of Police, in the name of Tafa Balogun, has himself publicly dragged into the EFCC net – then headed by one of his officers, Nuhu Ribadu, the agencies first helmsman.
While his ordeal lasted and had his rank buried in shame, he never cursed neither did he abuse his traducers.
In the face of overwhelming evidence, he defended himself but carried his cross at the end of the day. He got jailed,lost properties and other valuables.
Several other politically exposed persons like late Bayelsa governor, Alamesiegha had himself crated back to Nigeria after doing ‘hejira’ from the law and eventually convicted.
Same fate befell, James Ibori- two times Governor of Delta State who ironically funded election of his friend late Umaru Yaradua in 2007 on the onstruction of Obasanjo.
Though he ran to Dubai, but he eventually got jailed in Europe and came back some years ago after serving his sentence.
Today; he Isa free man and In spite of all these, he remained a man of his people.
Ironically, same story cannot be said of three powerful and principal allies of late President Muhammadu Buhari , who came into power with his anti- corruption crusade but ironically ended up harboring more roguish and unrepentant characters in his cabinet never before witnessed in Nigeria.
Isn’t it ironical that Buhari produced the likes of Godwin Emefiele, the light fingers first former Central Bank Governor in the history of Nigeria to be docked for corrupt enrichment having abused his office with billions of Naira recovered from him while his trial continues apace.
In a country where the wheel of justice moves slowly, Emefiele had millions of Naira to dispense to lawyers to prolong his trial but try as he may, the long arm of the law which had already secured millions of dollars finally confiscated to the Federal government, will have his fate with self crafted destiny.
In all these Emefiele never cursed nor blackmail those who used him and witnesses who testified to his greetings in office. His trial continues.
But same story cannot be said of Abubakar Malami, eight years Attorney General of the Federation who practically used Buharis non- challant supervision of ministers under him to allegedly re-loot billions of Naira repatriated from late Sani Abacha secret bank account.
At the last count, Malami who sent the likes of former Pension Reform Task Team helmsman, Abdulrasheed Maina to jail in 2001, allegedly helped himself to 57 properties worth N212 billion acquired while he sat in judgement over others.
Maina just out of jail,has threatened to spill more blood by revealing secret loot of Malami unknown to the public. A case of “you Malami me, I Maina you”
As his trial commenced, he raised hell of his being persecuted by the All Progressives Congress’s, APC government led by President Bola Tinubu.
As a prince from Kebbi with royal blood running in his vein, Malami believed he is untouchable and should remain so both on account of being one of Buharis inner caucus that ruled while Buhari look the other way and probably being in law to the late President who gleefully gae away his first daughter to him.
Perhaps he beliefs such gifts is enough to shield him from facing jugdement day.
Malami, also as petulant as diminutive former Kaduna immediate past Civilian governor, also reigned abuses on his traducers in government and party forgetting that in a sane clime nobody is over and above the law.
Whatever comes around goes around.
His demeanor in the dock portrays somebody who never thought that one day he could face the law he used over the years yet he remains unperturbed probably for reasons unknown to the rest of us.
Of late he has rallied some ‘friends ‘ who recently showed face in the court claiming ownership of the seized properties and asking government to show prove the properties belong to Malami. The last us definitely yet to be heard.
Perhaps the most petulant of all is the self acclaimed untouchable Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who both as former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, during Obasanjos days and later Kaduna governor for eight years behaved and carried himself like the once famous Kaduna Mafia- the Northern aristocrat power club that once determined who get what in Nigeria and abrogated to itself the power behind the throne of all government before Ibrahim Babangida, the self styled military President reigned them in during his eight year reign.
For somebody who have the reputation of fighting and bringing to public ridicule those who raised him up like Atiku Abubakar and Obasanjo, El Rufai either out of crass arrogance and self conceitdness never belief anyone could call him to order.
Perhaps like writer Farooq Kperoogi claimed, Rufai may be playing his mindset game he often use to cowed his benefactors from raising eyebrows to his behaviors and disdain for others.
Before his present travails, Rufai who is not shot of boasting like late former transport minister under Shehu Shagari, Umaru Dikko-reigning voice of then Kaduna Mafia, which formed a ring found Shagari while the nation burns. Dikko never for once thought he could end up in a crate until his neighbour’s last minute call saved him from being cried to Nigeria during Buhari/Idiagbons reign.
Though, Dikko later came back to Nigeria, he paled into irrelevance till his dying days.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
If El- Rufai is not being punished for his miscues of Kaduna state where for eight years constant blood letting was the fate of Southern Kaduna residents who have since breathlessness of relief,his alleged mismanagement of state financesby the ICPC is now the subject to of his crying wolf.
But apparently to starve off the EFCC from picking him up he has put Nihu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser under public angst claiming g the later is after him.
Perhaps he should read James Hadley Chase novel titled…the guilty are afraid.
If not, his tirade of accusations and arrogant claim of wire -tapping of Ribadus security line is obviously both a mind game to call to question the laters invicibility as the nation’s se curity czar, diminish his status and rubbish his office in the eyes of the public.
If it is true that Ribadus line was tapped by the riotous former governor, then he has really called to question the capacity of our security and clearly portray why the war against insurgency was being fought and made in effective right inside the government.
As yours faithfully wrote last week, the Enemy within the nations security architecture is more potent than whatever arsenal or men deployed by government in the war front.
Unknown to El Rufai, his claim of having the capacity to undermine the nations security probably informed United States under President Donald Trumps decision to send its soldiers to deploy military equipment earlier sent to Nigeria to fight insurgents.
If Rufais claim is valid, then it is without gainsaying that both him and Buhari has thoroughly compromised the military and reflect our inability to reign- in violent and irredentist Fulani home and abroad, who are bent on redefining and claiming Nigeria as its inheritance and homestead .
Rufais latest petition against Ribadu who is yet to say a word to the series of accusations of witch hunting by his self appointed ‘enemy’ may be a clever way for reducing him to size .
Is it true that Ribadus office imported poisonous substance. Is the claim meant to portray the NSA as another gestalt organisation bent on using state powers to silence opposition through poison or death inside cell.
Is Rufai’s deliberate attempt aimed at drawing out the NSA for a ‘roforofo’ fight in the public even as he publicly vowed to rally Nigerians to terminate Tinubu’s government he helped to bring into power.
If his threats and boasts are effective enough, is it enough to shield him from various petitions against his eight year mis rule by his own subjects ?
Since Rufai is characteristically cantankerous and given to rabble rousing and emotional outbursts, it takes wisdom to ignore him by his opponents who cannot stand being dragged in the mud.
As somebody bent on pulling down the house of which he was once a strong voice for ‘disowning’ him in government and outting him in irrelevance, wisdom and tactics may be all what is needed to tame him and his godlike disposition.
What is more, it is easier to tame a fellow who talk too much for in it lies his weakness and nemesis.
As election time draws nearer the nation is better prepared to contain bad losers who are obviously bent in bring down the house on all rather than accept defeat.
They abound in all our institutions and agencies of state but not all of them are bold and loud enough to come out but will in their corner conive to sabotage the nation.
Interesting times ahead
